Elizabeth Shue

Back To The Future Part III (1990)

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The third and final installment in the “Back to the Future” trilogy, “Back to the Future Part III” was filmed in Southern California and Monument Valley, Utah. The courthouse square and clock tower appear once again, as the events of the original film overlap with a new timeline. The building can be found on the Universal Studios Lot in Hollywood (100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608). It has been used in countless other films, including “To Kill A Mockingbird,” “Gremlins” and “Bruce Almighty.”  In 2008, a fire destroyed much of the building, but Universal restored and reopened it in 2009.  Today, it can be seen once again as part of the Universal Studios Tour, but this area frequently hosts productions and the site is routinely closed off from the tours.

Doc Brown’s house also appears once again, as Doc struggles to process the idea of another timeline. The house can be found in Pasadena.  Known as the Gamble House, it is a National Historic Landmark and museum, which is open to public tours.  However, only the exterior was used for Doc’s house in the film. The interiors were filmed on a set built on the Universal lot.

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LOCATION: 4 Westmoreland Pl, Pasadena, CA 91103

Much of the film takes place in the Old West. The drive in theater scene was filmed in Monument Valley, Utah, while the 1885 scenes were filmed on a set built at the Red Hills Ranch near Sonora, California, with additional scenes filmed in Oak Park and Jamestown, California.

Doc and Marty devise a plan to push the Delorean with a train, in order for it to reach the necessary speed to travel through time. Marty successfully arrives back in 1985 at these train tracks, located in Port Hueneme, California, about 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

LOCATION: S Ventura Rd / Shoreview Dr, Port Hueneme, CA 93041

Late in the film, Marty house appears once again as he confirms his family has returned to normal. The house can be found in Pacoima.

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LOCATION: 9303 Roslyndale Ave, Pacoima, CA 91331

Marty’s awekens his girlfriend Jennifer, who has been sleeping on her porch through the events of the film. The home can be found in Monrovia.

LOCATION: 161 N Magnolia Ave, Monrovia, CA 91016

Related articles: Used Cars (1980), Back To The Future (1985), Back To The Future Part II (1989), Death Becomes Her (1992), Forrest Gump (1994), Cast Away (2000)

Back To The Future Part II (1989)

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The 1989 sequel “Back to the Future Part II” is once again shot primarily around Southern California. The film makes use of several locations from the first film, revisiting many of them from the perspective of an alternate timeline. Marty McFly’s house once again appears in the film. It can be found in the San Fernando Valley, north of Los Angeles, in the town of Pacoima, California.

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LOCATION: 9303 Roslyndale Ave, Pacoima, CA 91331

After Marty’s girlfriend Jennifer sees her future self, she faints. Marty and Doc drop her off at her house, which can be found in Monrovia.

LOCATION: 161 N Magnolia Ave, Monrovia, CA 91016

Marty discovers that life in 1985 has been altered and his home town is now a dangerous area. The auditorium of Whittier High School can be seen behind him.

LOCATION: Whittier Ave / Bailey St, Whittier, CA 90601

Marty comes across the home of Mr. Strickland, which can also be found in Whittier. While we did not experience any issues during our visit, we’ve heard stories of others being confronted for filming or photographing this residence.

LOCATION: 12511 Bailey St, Whittier, CA 90601

The exterior scenes of Biff’s casino were filmed at the Plaza Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

LOCATION: 1 S Main St, Las Vegas, NV 89101

Biff’s house can be found in South Pasadena, on the same street as George and Lorraine’s houses from the first film.

LOCATION: 1809 Bushnell Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030

The exterior of Whittier High School once again serves as Hill Valley High School, which is primarily seen from the back of the school.

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LOCATION: 12417 Philadelphia St, Whittier, CA 90601

This tunnel is featured a couple times in the film as Biff makes his way to the dance. Near the end of the film, Biff and Marty fight over an almanac from the future. Marty rides a hoverboard as Biff tries to elminitate Marty in the tunnel. The tunnel can be found in Griffith Park, just before you reach the famous Griffith Observatory. The same tunnel can be seen in 1988’s “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” also directed by Robert Zemeckis.

LOCATION: Mt. Hollywood Tunnel, Mt Hollywood Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Several vehicles from the film can be seen on the Universal Studios Hollywood Tour, including this Litestar Pulse.

LOCATION: 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608

Also on the tour is this Ford Probe.

This Ford Edsel is also on display.

Related articles: Used Cars (1980), Back To The Future (1985), Back To The Future Part III (1990), Death Becomes Her (1992), Forrest Gump (1994), Cast Away (2000)

Mysterious Skin (2004)

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The 2004 drama “Mysterious Skin,” while set in the town of Hutchinson, Kansas, like most films by Gregg Araki, it was actually filmed in Southern California, primarily around the San Fernando Valley.

Early in the film, a young boy, Neil, is taken by his mother, played by Elizabeth Shue, to a little league baseball field back in the early 1980s. These scenes were filmed at Balboa Park in Encino. Its a fairly large park and it shows up in numerous scenes throughout the film, so we’ll attempt to identify where inside the park different scenes take place. Young Neil first sees the coach at the baseball fields. The field used in the scene is nearest to the basketball courts, with GPS coordinates around 34.174865, -118.504439.

LOCATION: Balboa Park, Encino, CA 91316 (nearest address is 17015 Burbank Blvd, Encino, CA 91316)

A teenage Neil, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, hustles at the playground of the same park. It has since been remodeled some. The GPS coordinates are around 34.173486, -118.505016.

Later in the film, as Neil walks away from this building to catch a ride, he shouts that he is sick of his town. This too was shot at Balboa Park, at the parking lot near the soccer fields. The GPS coordinates are around 34.176277, -118.504659.

This house is seen as a young Neil goes trick or treating in 1983.  The same house can be seen in “Kill Bill” and the 2003 “Project Greenlight” film, “The Battle Of Shaker Heights.”

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LOCATION: 5500 Atlas St, Los Angeles, CA 90032

Neil’s house can be found in Reseda.

LOCATION: 19220 Ingomar St, Reseda, CA 91335

Neil stands outside of his former coach’s house in the middle of the night, which can be found in Northridge.

LOCATION: 8417 Shirley Ave, Northridge, CA 91324

Late in the film, things take a violent turn at this apartment building, supposedly location in Brighton Beach in New York. The building can actually be found in Los Angeles.

LOCATION: 2910 Leeward Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90005

Thanks to Set-Jetter for first finding several of these locations.